By correspondent
LAGOS/Nigeria: The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to expand digital learning by urging private schools to adopt the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), a technology-driven education platform designed to improve teaching quality, enhance learning outcomes and provide wider access to educational resources.
The move comes as private schools continue to educate more than 60 per cent of learners in Lagos, making their participation critical to the state’s drive for inclusive and technology-enabled education.
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, made the call on Wednesday during a Nigeria Learning Passport sensitisation and monitoring programme organised by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with UNICEF at Ojodu.
The Nigeria Learning Passport is an online learning platform with mobile and offline capabilities that enables learners and teachers to access quality educational resources anytime and anywhere.
According to the commissioner, more than 25 states across Nigeria are currently using the platform, with Lagos emerging as the highest-performing state in terms of adoption and usage.
He disclosed that students, teachers and administrators in public schools across the state are already benefiting from the platform and stressed the need for private schools to embrace the initiative.
“Private school partners are indispensable to our education agenda because they serve a significant proportion of learners and contribute greatly to educational development.
“We must move beyond awareness to practical implementation, ensuring that digital learning becomes an integral part of classroom teaching and school management,” Alli-Balogun said.
He noted that the global education landscape had changed significantly, making technology-driven learning solutions increasingly important.
According to him, recent disruptions to conventional learning have demonstrated the need for flexible education systems capable of supporting continuous learning regardless of location or circumstance.
The commissioner explained that the Nigeria Learning Passport provides free access to more than 20,000 curriculum-aligned educational resources, including videos, audio materials, simulations, games and emerging technology content.
“The platform offers quality educational resources for learners and teachers, ensuring continuous learning while supporting improved classroom delivery and academic performance,” he said.
Highlighting the state’s achievements, Alli-Balogun revealed that Lagos had recorded more than 200,000 users on the platform and had been recognised as the best-performing state in Nigeria.
He described the recognition as evidence of Lagos State’s commitment to expanding digital learning opportunities and ensuring quality education for all learners.
To maximise the benefits of the initiative, he urged school proprietors to invest in continuous teacher training, monitor learner engagement through available data and appoint designated Nigeria Learning Passport champions to drive implementation within schools.
“We are committed to working with schools to overcome challenges and ensure that every child, regardless of school type, accesses quality education,” he added.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF representative Mr. Yusuf Usman highlighted the educational challenges faced by children in many rural communities, where poor infrastructure and seasonal conditions often disrupt learning.
“We have seen communities, especially rural areas, where children cannot access quality education due to poor infrastructure and seasonal challenges, making learning difficult during rainy periods,” he said.
Usman explained that the platform was designed not only to improve access to education but also to equip learners with critical 21st-century skills.
According to him, the Nigeria Learning Passport incorporates entrepreneurship, digital literacy and artificial intelligence components, helping to prepare young people for the future world of work.
He described the implementation of the initiative in Lagos as a success story and encouraged more schools to adopt the platform.
The UNICEF official noted that users could access the platform through nlp.edu.gov.ng by registering with their email addresses.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Lagos State Parents Forum, Mr. Ganiyu Olatunosun, urged parents to actively support the initiative by encouraging their children to use the platform responsibly.
“As parents, we must make out time not only to encourage our children to embrace and use this platform, but also to monitor them because it has come to stay in this 21st-century technology era,” he said.
The programme attracted key stakeholders in the education sector, including school proprietors, teachers and education administrators, who examined strategies for expanding the use of digital learning tools to improve educational outcomes across Lagos State.
The gathering underscored a growing consensus among stakeholders that technology-driven learning will play a central role in preparing learners for the demands of an increasingly digital world.
